We systematically discuss candidate wave functions for the ground state of
the bilayer \nu = 1 as the distance between the layers is varied. Those that
describe increased intralayer correlations at finite distance show a departure
from the superflid description for smaller distances. They may support finite
energy meron excitations and a dissipative collective mode in the place of the
Goldstone mode of the ordered phase i.e. describe a vortex metal phase, or
imply even an incompressible, pseudospin liquid, behavior. Therefore they
describe possible outcomes of quantum disordering at finite distance between
the layers. The vortex metal phase may show up in experiments in the presence
of disorder at lower temperatures and explain the observed "imperfect
superfluidity", and the pseudospin liquid phase may be the cause of the
thermally activated (gapped) behavior of the longitudinal and Hall resistances
at higher temperatures in counterflow experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure